Semiconductor packages and methods of forming the same

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor package includes forming a first plurality of die openings on a laminate substrate. The laminate substrate has a front side and an opposite back side. A plurality of first dies is placed within the first plurality of die openings. An integrated spacer is formed around each die of the plurality of first dies. The integrated spacer is disposed in gaps between the laminate substrate and an outer sidewall of each die of the plurality of first dies. The integrated spacer holds the die within the laminate substrate by partially extending over a portion of a top surface of each die of the plurality of first dies. Front side contacts are formed over the front side of the laminate substrate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor devices, andmore particularly to semiconductor packages and methods of forming thesame.

BACKGROUND

Semiconductor devices are used in many electronic and otherapplications. Semiconductor devices comprise integrated circuits ordiscrete devices that are formed on semiconductor wafers by depositingmany types of thin films of material over the semiconductor wafers.

Semiconductor devices are packaged using various packaging technologies.Conventional printed circuit boards consist of a core member orlayer—generally referred to as PCB core laminate layer—and one or moreadditional layers laminated on either side of the core layer. A PCB mayinclude a plurality of conductive and insulating layers sandwichedtogether. The insulating layers may be a fiberglass sheet or otherdielectric material for electrically isolating the conductive layers andfor providing structural strength for mounting components. Thefiberglass sheet may be impregnated with resin or epoxy, which is afamily of thermosetting resins used to form a bond with metal. Theconductive layers are typically made of copper foil, which are laminatedto the insulation layer using heat and pressure. The copper foil isetched to form signal traces providing the conductive pathways for theelectrical signals. Holes or interconnect vias are usually drilled orpunched to provide a conductive path between certain traces on differentlayers. Typically a printed circuit board (PCB) is populated withcomponents post manufacture and in the case of the semiconductordevices, these are supplied as packaged devices. These packaged devicescan be in many forms including over-molded through hole or surface mountdevices or ball grid array (BGA), Plastic Ball Grid Array (PBGA),Flip-chip chip scale package (CSP) (FCBGA).

Semiconductor packages have to provide outstanding performance withoutincreasing cost. Designs must continue to push the boundaries ofperformance and leverage more efficient manufacturing methods to achievecost reductions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other problems are generally solved or circumvented, andtechnical advantages are generally achieved, by illustrative embodimentsof the present invention.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method offabricating a semiconductor package comprises forming a first pluralityof die openings on a laminate substrate. The laminate substrate has afront side and an opposite back side. The plurality of first dies isplaced within the first plurality of die openings. An integrated spaceris formed around each die of the plurality of first dies. The integratedspacer is disposed in gaps between the laminate substrate and an outersidewall of each die of the plurality of first dies. The integratedspacer holds or secures the die within the laminate substrate bypartially extending over a portion of a top surface of each die of theplurality of first dies. Front side contacts are formed over the frontside of the laminate substrate.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, amethod of fabricating a semiconductor package comprises forming a firstplurality of die openings and a plurality of through openings on alaminate substrate. A plurality of first dies is placed within the firstplurality of die openings. An integrated spacer is formed around eachdie of the plurality of first dies. The integrated spacer is disposed ingaps between the laminate substrate and an outer sidewall of each die ofthe plurality of first dies. The integrated spacer holds the die withinthe laminate substrate by partially extending over a portion of a topsurface of each die of the plurality of first dies. The plurality ofthrough openings is filled with a conductive material. Contacts areformed over the laminate substrate. At least some of the contactscoupled to backside contacts under the plurality of first dies.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, asemiconductor package comprises a laminate substrate having a first dieopening, a first die disposed within the first die opening, and a firstspacer disposed within a first gap between the laminate substrate andthe first die. The first spacer is disposed around a perimeter of thefirst die. The first spacer covers a portion of a top surface of thefirst die and a portion of an opposite bottom surface of the first die.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features of an embodimentof the present invention in order that the detailed description of theinvention that follows may be better understood. Additional features andadvantages of embodiments of the invention will be describedhereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basisfor modifying or designing other structures or processes for carryingout the same purposes of the present invention. It should also berealized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructionsdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1, which includes FIGS. 1A-1C, illustrates a semiconductor packagefabricated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention,wherein FIG. 1A illustrates a top view and FIGS. 1B and 1C illustratedifferent cross-sectional views;

FIG. 2 illustrates a laminate substrate used in various embodiments ofthe invention, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a top view and FIG. 2Billustrates a magnified cross-sectional view;

FIG. 3 illustrates a laminate substrate after removing a portion of themetal layers in various embodiments of the invention, wherein FIG. 3Aillustrates a top view and FIG. 3B illustrates a magnifiedcross-sectional view;

FIG. 4 illustrates a laminate substrate after mounting the laminatesubstrate on a carrier and placing dies within the die openings invarious embodiments of the invention, wherein FIG. 4A illustrates a topview and FIG. 4B illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view;

FIG. 5, which includes FIGS. 5A-5D, illustrates a laminate substrateafter forming a partial spacer structure in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 5A illustrates a top view andFIG. 5B illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a laminate substrate afterforming an integrated spacer structure in accordance with an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a laminate substrate after plating both sides of thelaminate substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,wherein FIG. 7A illustrates a top view and FIG. 7B illustrates amagnified cross-sectional view;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor packagebeing fabricated after forming a patterned resist layer over thelaminate substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9, which includes FIGS. 9A and 9B, illustrates the semiconductorpackage being fabricated after forming the circuit interconnecting thedies in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 9Aillustrates a top view and FIG. 9B illustrates a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 10, which includes FIGS. 10A and 10B, illustrates the semiconductorpackage being fabricated after forming a solder mask in accordance withan embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 10A illustrates a top viewand FIG. 10B illustrates a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor packageafter forming the circuit layout and solder mask in accordance withembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12, which includes FIGS. 12A and 12B, illustrates a semiconductorpackage after singulation in accordance with embodiments of theinvention, wherein FIG. 12A illustrates the top side and FIG. 12Billustrates the back side; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a semiconductor package having an additionalsecondary lamination in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generallyrefer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures aredrawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments andare not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of various embodiments are discussed in detailbelow. It should be appreciated, however, that the present inventionprovides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in awide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussedare merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention,and do not limit the scope of the invention.

In semiconductor technologies, FoM (Figure of Merit) and circuitefficiency have been continuously improved by scaling from onetechnology node to another while reducing cost per transistor.Connection areas are also scaled during device scaling, which increasespower density per given area. Improvements in packaging are required toprevent parasitic elements from the package overwhelming theimprovements made within the semiconductor die. Therefore, connectionshave to be made to the semiconductor device that best use the availablearea of the die. These connections have to terminate in contact areasand pitches that are compatible with conventional electronic assemblymethods used by the component user, such as surface mountingtechnologies.

Conventional semiconductor packaging technologies use solder, conductiveglue and other methods of attaching die (chip) to conductors, whichresult in relatively high loss connection paths. Even with the bestpractices, the action of all “soldering” operations result in relativelyhigh impedance intermetallic formations.

The connection methods conventionally used on the front side of the die(chip) are even worse. Wire-bonding, ribbon-bonding and clip bondingresult in relative small cross-sectional area conduction paths. As thechips get smaller, the problems increase as the physical connection areadecreases and methods such as wire-bonding, clip-bonding becomedifficult to implement. More recently, technologies have started toutilize semi-embedded and embedded technologies. However, thesetechnologies use micro-via technologies with limitations on connectioncross-sectional dimension and via pitch (distance between adjacentvias), which result in increasing current densities and thermalconductivities with further scaling.

In various embodiments, the present invention teaches various methods ofincreasing the contact area and quality of contact to both sides of thesemiconductor dies and such packages.

Various embodiments of the present invention achieve many advantages byutilizing a core laminate having a thickness similar to the dies. Thecore laminate acts as a structural foundation for all subsequentbuilding stages, which are based on sequential build-up technologies.This approach brings numerous advantages throughout the assemblyprocesses. The first of the advantages is that the entire technologyuses very inexpensive materials and has very little waste and a lownumber of processing stages, which results in a simple and inexpensiveend product. The sequential build-up method means that the openings tothe die may be formed using a photo-imaging dielectric. This allowslarge area connections to be formed in any shape or form as required bythe package and circuit layout. Advantageously, this is achieved withoutcomplex processing and technologies.

FIG. 1, which includes FIGS. 1A-1C, illustrates a semiconductor packagefabricated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention,wherein FIG. 1A illustrates a top view and FIGS. 1B and 1C illustratedifferent cross-sectional views.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the semiconductor package comprises a plurality ofdies embedded within a laminate substrate 10 (see also thecross-sectional views of FIGS. 1B and 1C). For example, the packageincludes a first die 110 and a second die 120. The first and the seconddies 110 and 120 have a plurality of contacts 125 or contact pads formaking external contact, input/output and others. As an example, theplurality of contacts 125 include a first gate contact 121 coupled tothe gate of the first die 110, first source contact 131 coupled to thesource of the first die 110, and a common source/drain contact 141coupled to the drain of the first die 110. Similarly, the plurality ofcontacts 125 include a second gate contact 151 coupled to the gate ofthe second die 120 and a second drain contact coupled to the drain ofthe second die 120. In various embodiments, more or less number ofcontact pads may be present depending on the type of the dies. The aboveexample illustrates one way of packaging and connecting discretetransistor dies. As illustrated, the contact regions are surrounded by adielectric layer 90.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the dies are disposed in a laminate substrate 10.Each of the die is separated by a region of the laminate substrate 10 asevidenced by a portion 10A (FIG. 1C) of the laminate substrate 10separating the first die 110 from the second die 120.

An integrated spacer 220 is disposed in a gap between the die and thelaminate substrate 10. In various embodiments, the integrated spacer 220is also disposed over a portion of the dies thereby mechanically holdingor securing the dies. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, theintegrated spacer 220 has a cross-sectional shape of an “I” or a rotated“H.” Other shapes that cover the top surface and the bottom surface ofthe dies may be used in various embodiments. The integrated spacer 220advantageously holds the dies within the laminate substrate 10 duringprocessing and subsequently during the product life time. In variousembodiments, at least a portion of the perimeter of the die has an “I”section. In some embodiments, some portion but not all of the perimeterof the die has an “I” section.

The back side contacts, if any, may be coupled to the front side usingthrough vias 31 and back side and front side redistribution tracks ortraces. As an illustration, the second drain contact region 160 on thesecond die 120 has a thick conductive pad region (second drain contact161). The second gate contact region 150 is coupled to the second gatecontact 151 on the front side 11 using through vias 31 and the back sidegate conductor 152.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 1C, the back side contact region (secondsource contact region 170) is coupled through the second source contactconductor 171 to the first drain contact conductor 142 under the firstdrain contact region 140, which is coupled to the common source/draincontact 141 (FIG. 1A).

The actual circuitry illustrated above is an example, and in variousembodiments, any required circuit may be used. The circuit illustratedabove is a simple high-side/low-side half bridge layout, which may beused in a synchronous buck application. The circuit is one possibleapplication for a vertical conduction circuit, which may be used inconjunction with passive components in other embodiments as described infurther detail in co-pending application, application Ser. No.13/232,803, filed on Sep. 14, 2011, which application is incorporatedherein by reference. In the illustrated embodiments described in thepresent invention, the laminate substrate 10 is quite thin. However,embodiments of the invention may be also used for further embedding diesinto multi-layer printed circuit boards.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention teaches constructingan ultra-thin package having a total thickness of less than about 100μm, and about 50 μm to about 100 μm, although the package thickness maybe about 200 μm to about 300 μm in an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 2-12 illustrates a semiconductor package in various stages offabrication in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

Whilst the following process description teaches forming a package withvertical semiconductor dies, i.e., dies having contacts on bothsurfaces, there are no limitations to the technology that prevents orimpedes the production of circuits with all nodes on a single surface,upper or lower.

FIG. 2 illustrates a laminate substrate 10 used in various embodimentsof the invention, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a top view and FIG. 2Billustrates a magnified cross-sectional view. The laminate substrate 10has a core material layer 15 covered on the top and bottom with an uppermetal layer 40 and a lower metal layer 50 as illustrated in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 2B. The core material layer 15 may comprisea glass fiber reinforced epoxy in one embodiment. In variousembodiments, the upper and the lower metal layers 40 and 50 comprisecopper. In one or more embodiments, the upper and lower metal layers 40and 50 are pre-laminated to the top and bottom surfaces of the corematerial layer 15. This laminate substrate 10 having such a structuremay be referred as a core laminate in the field of printed circuit board(PCB) manufacture.

In various embodiments, the metal in the upper and the lower metallayers 40 and 50 is pre-treated and roughened before lamination to thecore material layer 15, which is normally, although not exclusively,organically based. Therefore, the upper and the lower metal layers 40and 50 advantageously have a very high peel strength. In contrast, inconventional processing, metals layer with high peel strength are notachievable where metal layers are deposited over non-metallic materialsduring subsequent processing, e.g., during formation of redistributionlines.

Examples of materials that may be used as the core material layer 15include FR4 materials (epoxy phenolic or epoxy novolac materials),bimaleimide (BT) materials, polyimide, cyanate-esters, ceramic, mineralbased laminates, glass like amorphous materials. The core material layer15 may be reinforced with glass weaves, papers, fibres or fillersespecially when the material of the core material layer 15 is an organicmaterial.

In various embodiments, the thickness of the laminate substrate 10 isabout the same as the die to be packaged within it. For example, when athickness of the die to be placed is about 100 μm, then a thickness ofthe core material layer 15 may be about 80 μm while the upper and thelower metal layers 40 and 50 may each be about 10 μm thick so that thetotal thickness of the laminate substrate 10 is also about 100 μm. Invarious embodiments, the thickness ratios between the core materiallayer 15 and the upper and the lower metal layers 40 and 50 may bevaried so as to generate about the same overall thickness. In variousembodiments, the thickness of the core material layer is about 70% toabout 90% of the thickness of the die to be packaged.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of openings is formed inthe laminate substrate 10. In various embodiments, the plurality ofopenings may be formed at this stage of processing or subsequentlydepending on available process choices.

In various embodiments, the plurality of openings may be formed using avariety of technologies such as drilling, routing, punching, chemicalmachining, laser ablation, laser cutting, plasma etching, water-jetcutting, and others.

The plurality of openings include a die opening 20 for the dies to beplaced and a through opening 30 for electrically connecting the backsidecontact of the dies (if any) to the front side. In various embodiments,the die opening 20 is cut to be slightly larger than the die to beplaced so that the die fits within the die opening 20 easily and toallow for some inaccuracy during die placement. In one or moreembodiments, the difference in width of the die opening 20 with thewidth of the die to be placed is about 50 μm per side, and about 20 μmto about 100 μm per side in various embodiments (see FIG. 4B showing thewidth of the gap Wg). This gap may be dependent on several factors suchas cutting accuracy, stability of the laminate material and dieplacement accuracy. As illustrated, the die openings 20 may haveadditional shapes/structures at the corners to enhance the mechanicalstability of holding the dies.

FIG. 3 illustrates a laminate substrate after removing a portion of themetal layers in various embodiments of the invention, wherein FIG. 3Aillustrates a top view and FIG. 3B illustrates a magnifiedcross-sectional view.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the upper and lower metal layers 40 and 50 areremoved from around the edge of the die opening 20. The metallicmaterial is removed to avoid metal shorts. Therefore, the metal layersare removed from both the top and bottom of the laminate substrate 10.In various embodiments, the upper and the lower metal layers 40 and 50are removed using a etch process to form etch back regions 60 asillustrated in FIG. 3B. The etch back process may be performed afterforming a resist that protects the regions of the metal that are not tobe etched.

In one or more embodiments, the upper and the lower metal layers 40 and50 are removed by about a etch back distance EB. The etch back distanceEB may be dependent on the subsequent processing capabilities in variousembodiments. In one or more embodiments, the etch back distance EB isabout 100 μm to about 500 μm. This is removed with a metal etchingprocess in one embodiment. As mentioned above with respect to FIG. 2, insome embodiments, the order of cutting the laminate substrate 10 andetching the metal layers may be exchanged depending on the processesused.

FIG. 4 illustrates a laminate substrate after mounting the laminatesubstrate on a carrier and placing dies within the die openings invarious embodiments of the invention, wherein FIG. 4A illustrates a topview and FIG. 4B illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the laminate substrate 10 is mounted on a carrier50. Thus, the front side 11 of the laminate substrate 10 remains exposedwhile the back side 12 is supported on the carrier 50. The carrier 50may comprise a rigid carrier or may be a tape. In case of a rigidsubstrate, a top layer of the carrier 50 may include an adhesive layerfor holding the laminate substrate 10 during processing.

The dies are then placed into the die openings 20. In variousembodiments, the dies may be placed both ways up. For example, withconventional vertical field effect transistor (FET) devices, the gateand source may be facing up or down. The configuration of the dieswithin the assembly is dependent on the circuit configuration and may beany layout.

FIG. 4B also illustrates the etch back distance EB described earlier,and the width of the gap Wg between the dies (e.g., first die 110) andthe laminate substrate 10.

As an illustration, FIG. 4A shows a top surface of first die 110 havinga first gate contact region 115 and a first source contact region 130placed within a first die opening. The first die 110 also includes afirst drain contact region 140 on the bottom side. A second die 120having a second drain contact region 160 on one surface is placed withinan adjacent second die opening 20, which is shown in FIG. 3B. The seconddie 120 has a second gate contact region 150 and a second source contactregion 170 on an opposite side. The contact regions of the first die 110and the second die 120 comprise a conductive material 41, which maycomprise copper or aluminum in one embodiment.

Advantageously, in various embodiments, the semiconductor dies/chips maybe easily placed either way up within the laminate substrate 10.

FIG. 5, which includes FIGS. 5A-5D, illustrates a laminate substrateafter forming a partial spacer structure in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 5A illustrates a top view andFIG. 5B illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view.

After placing the dies within the die openings 20, a partial spacer 200is deposited from the front side 11 of the laminate substrate 10.Consequently, the partial spacer 200 is formed along the perimeter ofthe first and the second dies 110 and 120 (FIG. 5A). The partial spacer200 also extends over the top surface of the first die 110 and thesecond die 120.

The partial spacer 200 holds the dies in place when the laminatesubstrate 10 is inverted. The partial spacer 200 also protects the edgeof the die and may also act as a dielectric for the patterning of thecontacts to the die. The partial spacer 200 may also be used directly toform the dielectric layer to pattern the die contacts. The partialspacer 200 may be used to complement existing dielectric layers alreadydeposited at the die level. Alternatively, an additional dielectriclayer may be printed over the partial spacer 200 to pattern the diecontacts.

The partial spacer 200 may be deposited in several ways in variousembodiments including using screen printing, flood coating, curtaincoating, spray deposition etc. The material of the partial spacer 200may be a photo-imaging or photo-patterning material in one embodimentfor ease of processing and improving patterning accuracy. In oneembodiment, a pattern screen printing process is used along withphoto-imaging to precisely pattern the material. This system asdescribed further below reduces wasted material and utilizes thestrengths of both processes.

In various embodiments, the spacer structure may be created in at leasttwo steps and deposited from both top and bottom surfaces. In one case,the spacer structure could be deposited as a patterned structure using amesh screening process with a stencil (sometimes referred to assilk-screening, which is a process still used in PCB manufacturing).Alternatively, in one embodiment, the spacer structure may be depositedusing metal stencil printing. However, for very fine geometries as maybe used in embodiments of the invention, these technologies which aremore adept for larger features may not be optimal.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the spacerstructure is formed using a printing process such as a screen printingprocess but using a stencil to print only a relatively small area, whichwould then be processed with a lithographic process (photo-imaging) andexcess material would then be developed away.

As illustrated in FIG. 5C, for example, a perimeter stencil print 201may be deposited around the die edge of the first die 110 using a screenprinting process. The thickness of the perimeter stencil print may beabout a few mm, e.g., 2 mm, as allowed by the process limitations. Invarious embodiments, the spacer material may be printed as a liquid or apaste.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5D, the perimeter stencil print 201 may beexposed using a lithographic process and the excess material developedaway. For example, the thickness of the perimeter stencil print may bereduced from a few mms, e.g., 2 mm, to a few hundred microns, e.g., 200μm thereby forming the partial spacer 200. The spacer material fills thegaps between the first die 100 and the laminate substrate 10. Thestructure after depositing the spacer material is illustrated in FIG.5B.

Additionally, in many cases, the technology may require a dielectriclayer to define and perhaps separate the contact areas of the die. So,for example, the design may incorporate a driver IC having closelyspaced together pads. Alternatively, a dielectric layer may be neededbecause a greater distance may need to be created between the gate tosource region (emitter to base on an IGBT) in a power die. When thespacer material is the same as the dielectric layer, then the dielectriclayer may be created as part of the spacer creation step, e.g., byscreen printing and photo-imaging. In other embodiments, the spacermaterial may be different from the dielectric layer material.

In alternative embodiments, the materials for forming the spacerstructure and the dielectric layer may be deposited by spraying, curtaincoating, dip-coating, dispensing, and others processes known to a personhaving ordinary skill in the art. However, these alternative processescover the entire laminate substrate with material, so that most of thematerial would have to be removed in the subsequentphoto-imaging/developing process. Advantageously, using screen/stencilprinting as described above reduces material wastes and reduces costs byreducing the amount of material to be removed during the developingprocess.

In one or more embodiments, the spacer materials used to form the spacerstructure 200 and integrated spacer 220 are photo-imaging materials sothat they can be photo-imaged as described above. Photo-imagingmaterials are available for many applications such as dielectrics andsolder-masks. Photo-imaging materials are often based on epoxy systemsand may be photoresists. The spacer material may be based on a number ofpotential polymer chemistries including epoxy resins, acrylate systems,cyanate esters etc.

In alternative embodiments, a selective ultra violet (UV) curing processmay be used instead of the photo-imaging. Accordingly, the spacermaterial may also be a UV curing material. Once these are selectively UVcured, then excess material may be removed, e.g., rinsed away, in asimilar way to a photo-imaging developing process.

In some embodiments, while the laminate substrate 10 is on the carrier50, a thermal process is performed after depositing the material of thespacer 300. The thermal process cures the spacer material to form thepartial spacer 200. After the thermal process, the laminate substrate 10is removed from the carrier 50. The partial spacer 200 holds the diesand prevents the dies from falling out of the laminate substrate 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a laminate substrate afterforming a spacer structure in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the laminate substrate 10 is removed from thecarrier 50 and the front side 11 is placed on a carrier 51. In someembodiments, an additional carrier may not be needed as the partialspacer 200 may support the dies. The spacer material is deposited fromthe back side 12 of the laminate substrate 10. The spacer material maybe the same material as described above in one embodiment. Inalternative embodiments, the spacer material deposited on the back side12 may be different from the spacer material deposited on the front side11.

After the spacer material is deposited another thermal curing may beperformed to form the integrated spacer 220. The integrated spacer 220forms a single structure comprising the spacer material deposited andcured from the front side 11 and the back side 12. The integrated spacer220 has an “I” shape such that at least a portion of the integratedspacer 220 covers the top surface of the laminate substrate 10 and thetop surface of the dies. Similarly, a portion of the integrated spacer220 covers the bottom surface of the laminate substrate 10 and thebottom surface of the dies.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, the present invention teaches methodsfor retaining or holding dies within a core laminate such as thelaminate substrate 10, for example, during processing. A photo-imagingor ultra-violet curing spacer material is used to retain the die in oneembodiment. The integrated spacer 220 is formed around the perimeter ofthe semiconductor die/chip and the edge of the die openings 20 in thelaminate substrate 10. The finished spacer, which is a highly engineeredpolymer material, forms a “I” section structure, which extends onto thesemiconductor device surface and the surface of the laminate substrate10. Such a spacer structure retains, protects, and forms a strongstructural part of the packaging architecture.

FIG. 7 illustrates a laminate substrate after forming a partial spacerstructure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, whereinFIG. 7A illustrates a top view and FIG. 7B illustrates a magnifiedcross-sectional view.

After the integrated spacer 220 is formed, the laminate substrate 10 maybe removed from any supporting carrier 50. The laminate substrate 10 issubjected to a metallization process. Advantageously, the technology ofdie attach requires no subsequent processing to clean residuals from thespacer or patterning processing. However, surface preparation/activationof the metal and non-metallic surfaces may be required prior tometallization in some embodiments. In various embodiments, the surfacepreparation techniques such as acid or alkali rinses, mild surfaceabrasion, plasma and oxygen washes may be employed prior to this processstage.

Embodiments of the invention advantageously use an electro-less platingtechnology to simultaneously process both sides of the laminatesubstrate 10. During electro-less plating, the laminate substrate 10including the dies is immersed in a plating bath. Thus, both sides areexposed to the plating bath and therefore processed at once. In one ormore embodiments, the through vias 31 may also be filled at the sametime during the electro-less deposition process.

Leveraging the PCB type plating processes, subsequent processes may alsobe combined as much as possible. So, for example, the patterned resistlayer 75 are deposited (FIG. 8) by sequentially coating on either sideof the laminate substrate 10, then sequentially exposing one side at atime. However, the developing and etching may be advantageously carriedout at the same time for both sides by submerging the laminate substrate10 into a suitable developer or etchant.

Alternatively in one embodiment, a electroplating process may be used.In such an embodiment, a seed layer 55 is optionally formed over the topsurface and the opposite bottom surface of the laminate substrate 10.The seed layer 55 is optional because the upper metal layer 40 over thelaminate substrate 10 may be used as a seed layer. The seed layer 55 maybe formed using a metal deposition process such as sputtering, vapordeposition processes including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasmavapor deposition (PVD). The seed layer 55, if formed, is covered. Theseed layer 55 may be formed over the entire surface as a blanket layerincluding over the non-metallic areas of the laminate substrate 10.

A thick metal layer 65 is formed over the seed layer 55 over the topsurface and the opposite bottom surface of the laminate substrate 10. Invarious embodiments, the thick metal layer 65 may be formed over seedlayer 55 using electro-deposition process such as electroplating. In analternative embodiment, the front side 11 and the back side 12 of thelaminate substrate 10 are subjected to an electroless depositionprocess. The thick metal layer 65 may be deposited as a blanket layerafter which the metal layer 65 may be patterned in one embodiment asillustrated in FIG. 7.

The seed layer 55 and the thick metal layer 65 may be formed over thefront side 11 and then the laminate substrate 10 may be placed overanother carrier. The seed layer 55 and the thick metal layer 65 may beformed over the back side 12. The seed layer 55 and the thick metallayer 65 may also fill the through openings 30 so as to form throughvias 31.

In an alternative embodiment, a resist layer is formed over the seedlayer 55. The resist layer is patterned so that only regions of the seedlayer 55 over which the thick metal layer 65 is to be formed is exposed.Thus, the thick metal layer 65 is structured during deposition as in adamascene process. The resist layer may be removed after depositing thethick metal layer 65.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor packagebeing fabricated after forming a patterned layer over the laminatesubstrate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a patterned resist layer 75 is formed over thethick metal layer 65. The patterned resist layer 75 protects the regionsof the thick metal layer 65 that are not to be removed. In other words,the patterned resist layer 75 represents the circuit layout of thepackage. The patterned resist layer 75 may be formed by depositing aphotoresist material and patterning using conventional lithographyprocesses. The photoresist material may be coated over the laminatesubstrate 10 or alternatively may be applied as a dry film or sheet. Thepatterned resist layer 75 may comprise an organic material such as aphoto resist in one embodiment.

In an alternative embodiment, the patterned resist layer 75 comprises ametallic layer. The metallic layer may be applied using an organicresist to pattern plate. In PCB production, the copper is often removedusing ferric-chloride, cupric chloride, sulfuric-peroxide, or ammoniacaletching. The etchant used largely determines the material of thepatterned resist layer 75. For example, metallic resists are not optimalfor use with cupric chloride while ammoniacal etchants are suited foruse with most resists. Sulfuric-peroxide is also compatible withmetallic resists.

For fine definition processing, a plating resist may be created as anegative (i.e. over the copper to be removed) and a hard etch mask ismade using metals such as tin, tin-lead, gold, and others. Next, theresist metal such as tin may be plated. The plating resist is thenremoved leaving the plated resist metal, which forms the patternedresist layer 75.

The advantages of this process is that the metal such as tin adheresmuch better to the surface than an organic resist, so resist lifting,peeling and under-etching are reduced. This also allows the formation offiner geometries thus achieving higher reliability during etching.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, a laser ablation process may beused for structuring, especially when patterning very thin metal layers.The entire surface of the metal layer 65 may be coated with tin, andthen structured with a laser. The result is the same as producing thetin as a pattern plate.

FIG. 9, which includes FIGS. 9A and 9B, illustrates the semiconductorpackage being fabricated after forming the circuit interconnecting thedies in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

As next illustrated in FIG. 9, using the patterned resist layer 75 as anetch mask, the circuit layout is defined by etching the exposed thickmetal layer 65 and, if necessary, the seed layer 55. Any exposedmetallic layer underneath the thick metal layer 65 may be removed. Forexample, the upper metal layer 40 on the top surface of the laminatesubstrate 10 may be etched and removed to avoiding shorting. Thepatterned resist layer 75 is removed after etching the exposed thickmetal layer 65 and the seed layer 55. After etching the exposed thickmetal layer 65, the metal such as tin, which forms the patterned resistlayer 75 is removed in a selective tin etch process.

Thus, after the patterning of the thick metal layer 65 and the seedlayer 55, a plurality of contact pads 125 are formed over the laminatesubstrate 10. The plurality of contact pads 125 may be connected to thecontact areas on the dies by redistribution lines 135.

The plurality of contact pads 125 include a first gate contact 121coupled to the first gate contact region 115 through redistributionlines 135. The plurality of contact pads 125 include a first sourcecontact 131 coupled and disposed over the first source contact region130.

The plurality of contact pads 125 may include a second drain contact 161disposed over and coupled to the second drain contact region 160. Theplurality of contact pads 125 include a second gate contact 151 coupledto the second gate contact region 150 through back side redistributionlines and through vias 31. Similarly, a common source/drain contact 141is coupled to the first drain contact region 140 and the second sourcecontact region 170 using backside redistribution lines and through vias31.

FIG. 10, which includes FIGS. 10A and 10B, illustrates the semiconductorpackage being fabricated after forming a solder mask in accordance withan embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 10A illustrates a top viewand FIG. 10B illustrates a cross-sectional view.

Referring next to FIG. 10, a dielectric layer 90 (solder mask) may beformed over and under the laminate substrate 10. The dielectric layer 90may be an organic material in one embodiment. The dielectric layer 90may be fabricated from a polymer, such as poly (p-xylylene) (parylene),photo resist material, imide, epoxy, epoxy resin, duroplast, silicone,or ceramics such as materials comprising carbon and silicone. In variousembodiments, the dielectric layer 90 may be deposited as a liquid orpaste using screen printing, curtain coating, flood coating, sprayingetc. or by using a dry-film laminate or sheet. The dielectric layer 90may be deposited from a gas phase or from a solution, or can be printedor laminated in some embodiments. The dielectric layer 90 may be used tofurther define the circuit connectivity or to protect one or more nodesof the circuit with different potentials.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor packageafter forming the circuit layout and solder mask over both the frontside and back side in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

As described above, in various embodiments, the process steps (FIGS.7-10) may be performed sequentially first on the front side 11, and thenthe process steps may be repeated on the back side 12. Alternatively, insome embodiments, a process step may be performed first on one side andthen immediately over the other side.

Referring to FIG. 11, the laminate substrate 10 is placed over a carrier51 so that the front side 11 is below and the back side 12 is above. Thecontacts on the back side 12 have been fabricated, in one embodiment asdescribed above, in FIGS. 7-10.

The second source contact region 170 on the back surface of the seconddie 120 is coupled to second source contact conductor 171 and coupled tothe common source/drain contact 141 through backside redistributionlines (similar to the front side redistribution lines 135) and a throughvia 31. The second gate contact region 150 is coupled to the second gatecontact on the front side 11 through a through via 31 and back side gateconductors 152.

FIG. 12, which includes FIGS. 12A and 12B, illustrates a semiconductorpackage after singulation in accordance with embodiments of theinvention, wherein FIG. 12A illustrates the top side and FIG. 12Billustrates the back side.

The laminate substrate 10 may be singulated into semiconductor packagesas illustrated in FIG. 12. FIG. 12A illustrates the contact pads 125over the front side 11 of the laminate substrate 10 while FIG. 12B showsthe back side conductor under the back side 12 of the laminate substrate10.

FIG. 13 illustrates a semiconductor package having an additionalsecondary lamination in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

In some embodiments, a discrete or multi chip surface mount device (SMD)package so that the contacts are formed on one surface for connection toa printed circuit board (PCB). In some of these embodiments, anultra-thin package formed according to embodiments described above mayhave issues such as arising from mechanical stability. This embodimentmay be used to overcome any such limitations. In one or moreembodiments, the circuit may be bonded to a stabilization layer such asa metal plate. In one embodiment, the stabilization layer may be addedusing a lamination process similar to a PCB lamination manufacturingprocess. This process may be referred as secondary lamination.

Referring to FIG. 13, a plurality of contacts 125 are formed on onesurface forming a SMD. A composite layer 235 is laminated onto the backof the package rather than a metal plate in one embodiment of theinvention. The secondary lamination to a carrier advantageously hasfurther distinct benefits in that a thick metal layer can be fullyisolated or the node to which it is connected may be chosen. This isvery beneficial to applications that have heat-sinking as the connectionof the heat-sink does not require the added complexity of electricalisolation.

In various embodiments other types of packages may also be fabricatedusing embodiments of the invention. For example, the embodiments of theinvention also include fabrication of devices illustrated in applicationSer. No. 13/180,630, filed on Dec. 7, 2011, which application is hereinincorporated by reference.

The semiconductor package thus formed may be integrated into amulti-layer printed circuit board (PCB) stack in various configurations.The semiconductor package may be used as a full circuit stage, forexample, as a “daughterboard” or “piggy-back board,” which is anextension circuit board or “daughter” of a motherboard or a card.

Embodiments of the present invention advantageously use sequential buildup technologies. This reduces waste products during the wafer levelpackaging. For example, thick metal layers are deposited only whererequired. Materials do not need to be removed or machined with expensiveand difficult processing technologies. Further, in various embodiments,many of the processes are completed as double sided operations. Forexample, plating, photo-resist developing, etching, and solder maskdeveloping are carried out together to reduce process steps.

Embodiments of the invention use photo-imaging dielectrics, which resultin a process that allows large flexibility in the shape, area, and mixof aperture size and form. This photo-imaging process produces a verythin, e.g., about 6 μm to about 40 μm dielectric layer. Thephoto-imaging process creates virtually no surface topology, thereforeit is possible to open a very small connection as well as very largeones. So, for example, a small aperture may be placed next to a verylarge aperture. For example, a 25 μm round aperture may be produced nextto a square aperture of 100 mm². The subsequent plating technology isalso very simple because of the flat topology and therefore complexitiesof blind-via plating are avoided.

Advantageously, in various embodiments, the dies remain visible throughmuch of the early processing. Therefore, complicated procedures relatingto finding the die or blind processing are avoided using embodiments ofthe invention. The following paragraphs describe the processes ofbuilding an embedded semiconductor packaging structure.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. As an illustration, the embodiments described in FIG. 1 maybe combined with the embodiments described in FIG. 13. Similarly, theembodiments of the present invention may be combined with embodimentsdescribed in co-pending application, application Ser. No. 13/232,803,filed on Sep. 14, 2011, which application is incorporated herein byreference thereby forming electronic modules having a passive component.It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass any suchmodifications or embodiments.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompassany such modifications or embodiments.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example,it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many ofthe features, functions, processes, and materials described herein maybe varied while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to belimited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine,manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps describedin the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantiallythe same function or achieve substantially the same result as thecorresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according tothe present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended toinclude within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor package,the method comprising: forming a die opening in a laminate substrate,the laminate substrate having a front side and a back side; placing adie within the die opening; and forming a spacer around the die, thespacer disposed between the laminate substrate and an outer sidewall ofthe die, the spacer partially extending over a portion of the die, theforming of the spacer including depositing a spacer material in a firstregion around a perimeter of the die, and removing a portion of thespacer material from the first region to form the spacer.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the laminate substrate has a upper conductive layerover the front side of the laminate substrate and a lower conductivelayer under the back side of the laminate substrate, the method furthercomprising removing a portion of the upper and the lower conductivelayers from the front side and the back side around the die opening. 3.The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the laminate substrateon a carrier before placing the die within the die opening.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: coating a metallic material so asto cover the front side of the laminate substrate, a top surface of thespacer, and the top surface of the die; forming a circuit layoutcomprising the metallic material coating and a thick conductive layerformed over the metallic material coating; and forming a solder maskcovering portions of the circuit layout.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: forming a through opening on the laminate substratewhile forming the die opening; and forming a through via with a metal byfilling the through opening after forming the spacer.
 6. A semiconductorpackage comprising: a substrate having a first die opening; a first diedisposed within the first die opening; and a first spacer disposedwithin a first gap between the laminate substrate and the first die, thefirst spacer disposed around a perimeter of the first die, the firstspacer formed by depositing a spacer material in a first region around aperimeter of the first die, and removing a portion of the spacermaterial from the first region to form the first spacer.
 7. The packageof claim 6, wherein the first spacer comprises an insulating material.8. The package of claim 6, further comprising: a second die disposedwithin a second die opening within the substrate, the first die isolatedfrom the second die by a portion of the substrate; and a second spacerdisposed within a second gap between the substrate and the second die,the second spacer disposed around a perimeter of the second die andhaving an “I” shaped structure.
 9. A method, comprising: providing asubstrate with at least one opening having at least one substrate sidesurface; depositing a die in the at least one opening, the die having atleast one die side surface facing the at least one substrate sidesurface; and forming at least one spacer between the at least one dieside surface and the at least one substrate side surface, the forming ofthe at least one spacer including depositing a spacer material in afirst region around a perimeter of the die, and removing a portion ofthe at least one spacer material from the first region to form the atleast one spacer.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein thespacer contacts the at least one die side surface and the at least onesubstrate side surface.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein thesubstrate includes a substrate front surface and a substrate backsurface, and the die includes a die front surface and a die backsurface, the forming act further forms the at least one spacer over aportion of the substrate front surface and a portion of the die frontsurface.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the forming actfurther forms the at least one spacer over a portion of the substrateback surface and the die back surface.
 13. The method according to claim11, further comprising placing the substrate and the die, including theat least one spacer formed between the at least one die side surface andthe at least one substrate side surface, over a carrier, the placingcausing the at least one spacer to contact the carrier and furthercausing a gap to form between the substrate front surface and thecarrier and between the die front surface and the carrier.
 14. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the forming act further forms theat least one spacer over a portion of the substrate back surface and aportion of the die back surface.
 15. An apparatus, comprising: asubstrate; a die being adjacent the substrate; and a spacer being placedbetween the die and the substrate, the spacer at least in contact withthree surfaces of the substrate and being a contiguous structure formedby a curing process that integrates at least two portions of the spacer.16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the spacer is furtherat least in contact with three surfaces of the die.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein the spacer is in contact with side, frontand bottom surfaces of the substrate, and further in contact with side,front and bottom surfaces of the die.
 18. The apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein the substrate includes an opening, the die beingpositioned in the opening and the spacer being placed between a surfacedefining at least a portion of the opening and a lateral surface of thedie.
 19. A spacer to separate components, comprising: a first recess toaccommodate a first semiconductor component; and a second recess toaccommodate a second semiconductor component, wherein the first recessis limited to protecting an edge of the first semiconductor componentand the second recess is limited to protecting an edge of the secondsemiconductor.
 20. The spacer according to claim 19, wherein the spaceris formed from a polymer material.
 21. The spacer according to claim 19,wherein the spacer is formed from a thermally curable material.
 22. Thespacer according to claim 19, wherein the first semiconductor componentis a laminate substrate and the second semiconductor component is a die.23. The spacer according to claim 19, wherein the spacer has an “I”shape.
 24. The spacer according to claim 19, wherein the first recess issmaller than the second recess.